By Ian Todd
October 19 2013

The 125th anniversary of Bristol’s first game was marked by a hugely entertaining victory for the hosts.  Seven tries for Bristol and four for visitors Bedford were the result of rugby played at pace and with no little skill.  The weather played its part with perfect conditions providing the ideal chance for the Bristol supporters to bask in the warm glow of both unseasonable warmth and a satisfying win

In lovely conditions Bristol kicked of the game and the visitors were soon penalised for failing to release.  The kick was dispatched to touch, but this season’s reliable lineout form failed to continue.  However, the Bedford clearance only made it to Adam D’Arcy who made good progress forward only for the ball to be knocked-on.  The put in at the scrum was obviously not straight and Bristol made good ground from the free-kick only to knock-on again.  Still Bristol had the upper hand and came away with the ball, quick hands allowed Ben Mosses to plunge over the line but he was adjudged not to have touched down.  The five metre scrum had to be reset a couple of times before Bristol were penalised.  Bedford seemed unable to make any real inroads into the Bristol half and the home side were soon back on the attack.  Ben Skirving thundered down the left wing only for his pass to the supporting Ryan Edwards to float into touch.  The Bedford lineout throw looked far from straight but Bristol pounced on the loose ball but once more the ball was ruled to have been held up.  The referee was playing advantage though and Bristol elected to take the scrum.  The ball was quickly away, initial out left and then back inside for prop James Hall to smash over with a defender vainly clinging to him.  Tristan Roberts converted to give Bristol a thoroughly deserved 7 – 0 lead.

Bedford tried to hit back quickly, but their move broke down and gifted Bristol possession.  The hosts exploited the opportunity ruthlessly with a marvellous break down the right wing with forwards and backs interacting well and George Watkins carrying at pace.  It looked as if the move had ground to a halt just short of the line before Bryan Rennie gathered the ball and went over from close range.  Bristol looked to have scored almost from the restart when Mark Lilley showed a fine turn of pace before feeding livewire Ruki Tipuna.  Sadly the scrum half was called back for a foot in touch.  Bristol continued to press forward and once more seemed to have scored following a superb penalty touch finder from Roberts took Bristol to the Bedford five metre line.  It appeared that Hall touched down for a try following a well-executed catch and drive but the officials ruled that the ball was lost forward.  Not from my angle, but a reliable informant tells me it really was.  Bristol could not be denied for long and an excellent lineout, followed by quick passing released Watkins who cut a great line to slice through the defence and score virtually where Hall had ‘touched down’.  Just two minutes later he was back on the scoreboard when another superb move culminated in James Merriman popping the ball into his hands and he went in under tha posts.  Roberts converted to take Bristol into a commanding 24 – 0 lead and a bonus point earned with just over half an hour played.

Bedford really had to get something on the board themselves before half time and a penalty kick to touch gave them the opportunity.  The lineout was a good one and the follow up drive tied in the Bristol forwards.  The ball was shipped out to Stanley who broke clear far too easily to score a converted try at the close of the half.

 

Bristol gave away a penalty early in the second half and gave away a further ten metres for commenting to frankly to the referee.  This brought it well within Pritchard’s range and he narrowed the gap to 24 – 10.  The home side remained under pressure with some good tactical kicking from Sharp.  A good move from the scrum caught the Bristol defence at sixes and sevens Barell was over for  a converted try and left Bristol with a far from healthy looking lead of 24 – 15.

Bristol were stung into action and responded just minutes later.  Bedford were penalised at a lineout and Roberts kicked for touch.  The ball sped out from the lineout to Edwards who romped over for a converted try.  Bedford were not to be outdone in this exciting encounter and a mix up when Bristol attempted to claim the restart saw the visitors once again applying pressure on Bristol.  They claimed a lineout and drove for the line and Boulton was bundled over for a converted try.  It was 31 – 22 in end-to-end stuff.

Truly it was, with Bristol over the Bedford line again within minutes.  A penalty to touch, a couple of powerful forward drives to suck in the defence and then quick passing along the backline to set up a three to none overlap and Edwards was over to match his fellow wing.  Replacement Nicky Robinson stroked the ball over for 38 – 22.  The game went to uncontested scrums when Rhys Lawrence came on for Lilley (following a five minute cameo from Jason Hobson that necessitated a return to action for Hall.  Not terribly edifying.  Neither was a kick out on the full from Robinson.  The lineout throw once again looked well off the straight and narrow but Bedford rather tamely coughed up possession.  Robinson made amends with a good clearance, swiftly followed by another when Bedford were penalised.  Deep in the opposition half simple, but clinical, passing freed up replacement Mitch Eadie to go over out left.  Robinson converted well for 45 – 22.  There was still time for Bedford to get a bonus point try of their own when Atkinson opened up the defence to score at the death for a final score of 45 – 27.